Discursive struggles among college drinkers and non-drinkers

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Authors
Green, Caleb J.
Advisor
O'Hara, Laura L.
Issue Date
2014-07-19
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (M.A.)
Department
Department of Communication Studies
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Abstract

Alcohol is a significant part of life for college students. Whether they choose to imbibe in or abstain from, college students find that the substance has a profound effect on the construction of their social lives. This study analyzed focus group interviews of drinkers and non-drinkers using Baxter’s (2011) Relational Dialectics Theory to examine the struggle between different ways of speaking about alcohol in a college setting. Findings revealed that both groups use various discursive moves to both limit and expand the overall discourse of college drinking and non-drinking, negotiating alcohol’s importance in college life and adulthood.

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